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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0244*
HOUSE BILL 244
M1 6lr0138
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 214
By: Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee (By Request –
Departmental – Natural Resources)
Requested: September 26, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Vessel Transfers – Transfer–on–Death Beneficiary 2
Designation 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing an individual who is the sole owner of a certain vessel to 4
apply to the Department of Natural Resources to designate a beneficiary to take 5
ownership of the vessel on the death of the owner; requiring a designated beneficiary 6
who survives the owner of a vessel to apply to the Department for a new certificate 7
of title for the vessel; requiring an application for a certificate of title for a vessel to 8
contain certain information; and generally relating to beneficiary designations for 9
vessels. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Natural Resources 12
Section 8–715(e) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Natural Resources 17
Section 8–720.1 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22
Article – Natural Resources 23
8–715. 24
2 HOUSE BILL 244
(e) (1) Every owner of a vessel subject to tit ling under the provisions of this 1
subtitle shall apply to the Department for issuance of a certificate of title for the vessel 2
within 30 days after acquisition. 3
(2) The application shall [be]: 4
(I) BE on forms the Department prescribes, and accompanied by the 5
required fee and tax[. The application shall be]; 6
(II) BE signed and sworn to before a notary public or other person 7
who administers oaths, or a certification signed in writing containing substantially the 8
representation that statements made are true and correct to the best of the applicant’s 9
knowledge, informat ion, and belief, under penalty of perjury [. The application shall 10
contain]; 11
(III) CONTAIN the date of sale and gross price of the vessel or the fair 12
market value if no sale immediately preceded the transfer[,]; 13
(IV) IF THE SOLE INDIVIDUAL OWNER OF A VESSEL DESIGNATES 14
A TRANSFER –ON–DEATH BENEFICIARY UN DER § 8–720.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE , 15
INCLUDE THE NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS OF THE BENEFICIARY; and [any] 16
(V) CONTAIN ANY additional information the Department requires. 17
(3) If the application is made for a vessel last previously registered or titled 18
in another state or foreign country, the application shall contain this information and any 19
other the Department requires. 20
8–720.1. 21
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “VESSEL” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 8–716 OF 22
THIS SUBTITLE. 23
(B) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS THE SOLE OWNER OF A VESSEL MAY APPLY TO 24
THE DEPARTMENT TO DESIGNA TE A BENEFICIARY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF TH E 25
VESSEL ON THE DEATH OF THE OWNER. 26
(C) THE DESIGNATION OF A BENEFICIARY MAY BE S HOWN BY THE WORDS 27
“TRANSFER–ON–DEATH” OR THE ABBREVIATION “TOD” AFTER THE NAME OF TH E 28
REGISTERED OWNER ON A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE. 29
(D) (1) THE DESIGNATION OF A BENEFICIARY FOR A VE SSEL DOES NOT 30
AFFECT THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VESSEL UNTIL THE DEATH OF THE OWNER OF THE 31
VESSEL. 32
HOUSE BILL 244 3
(2) THE OW NER OF A VESSEL MAY CANCEL OR CHANGE THE 1
DESIGNATION OF A BEN EFICIARY AT ANY TIME WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE 2
BENEFICIARY BY APPLYING TO THE DEPARTMENT. 3
(E) THE DESIGNATION OF A BENEFICIARY IS NOT R EQUIRED TO BE 4
SUPPORTED BY CONSIDERATION, AND THE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE OF THE VESSEL 5
FOR WHICH THE DESIGNATION IS MADE IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED TO THE 6
BENEFICIARY IN ORDER FOR THE DESIGNATION TO BE EFFECTIVE. 7
(F) ON THE DEATH OF THE O WNER OF A VESSEL WHO HAS DESIGNATED A 8
BENEFICIARY, OWNERSHIP OF THE VESSEL SHALL PASS TO THE BENEFICIARY IF THE 9
BENEFICIARY SURVIVES THE OWNER. 10
(G) (1) A DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY WHO SURVIVES THE OWNER SHALL 11
APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE OF TITLE FOR THE VESSEL. 12
(2) AN APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE BY A BENEFICIARY 13
FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THE OWNER SHALL INCLUDE: 14
(I) THE ORIGINAL CERTIFIC ATE OF TITLE DESIGNA TING THE 15
BENEFICIARY; 16
(II) A DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR THE DECEASED OWNER; 17
(III) PROOF OF THE IDENTITY OF THE BENEFICIARY; AND 18
(IV) ANY APPLICABLE TAXES OR FEES. 19
(H) IF A DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY DOES NOT SURVIVE THE DEATH OF THE 20
OWNER, THE VESSEL IS PART OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED OWNER. 21
(I) THIS SECTION DOES NOT LIMIT THE RIGHTS OF CREDITORS OF VESSEL 22
OWNERS AGAINST BENEFICIARIES AND OTHER TRANSFEREES UNDER OTHER LAWS 23
OF THIS STATE. 24
(J) THE DEPARTMENT MAY CHARGE A FEE, NOT TO EXCEED THE COSTS TO 25
THE DEPARTMENT, FOR ISSUING A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE UNDER THIS SECTION. 26
(K) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT TH IS 27
SECTION. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 29
October 1, 2026. 30